Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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A pilot online driver theory test is underway for trucks and buses. Any customers wishing to sit a driver theory test in these vehicle categories can do so by visiting www.theorytest.ie.

The rollout of this option for customers undertaking car theory tests is planned to begin within this month, with up to 3000 online tests being conducted per month. There will be a limit on the number of customers that can avail of the service during the initial rollout phase, but work is ongoing to make online services more widely available towards the end of 2021.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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187. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the operation of the learner driver theory test under the easement of public health restrictions from 10 May 2021; his plans to clear the backlog in counties Carlow and Kilkenny of those awaiting a test following several cancellations; if an online theory test is to be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24194/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Currently, the Driver Theory Test is considered a non-essential service and remains closed for now until an appropriate phase of the Government's plans..

Because the service was closed for long periods of time over the last year, a large backlog of customers has built up. The RSA recognise that it will take time to meet this demand and restore pre-COVID-19 waiting times when the service does reopen.

In response to this, the RSA will introduce an increase in capacity within the service when it is allowed to reopen. This additional capacity will see the number of tests increase from an average pre Covid19 output of 15,000 tests per month to 50,000 per month when the service resumes. This will help significantly to tackle the backlog of customers.

A pilot online driver theory test is underway for trucks and buses. The rollout of this option to theory tests for cars is planned to begin shortly. There will be a limit on the number of customers that can avail of the service during the initial rollout phase, but work is ongoing to make online services more widely available towards the end of 2021.